Device comprising blocks of sheets of paper or the like for the representation of animated pictures



Oct. 15. 1940. c c v I 2,218,084

DEVICE COMPRISING BLOCKS OF SHEETS OF PAPER 0R TEE LIKE FOR TEE REPRESENTATION 0F ANIMATED PICTURES Filed D80. 1938 IIVVf/VTQR. CESARE CIVITA BY 4 %,m fig ITTOPA/zf j Patented Oct. 15, 1940 UNITED STATES DEVICE COMPRISING BLOCKS OF SHEETS OF PAPER OR. THE LIKE FOR, THE REPRE- SENTATION F ANIMATED PICTURES Cesare Civita, Milan, Italy Application December 3, 1938, Serial No. 243,739 In Italy November 10, 1938 1 Claim.

Devices consisting of blocks of sheets of paper or of other suitable material are known, for the representation of animated pictures, joined together laterally and arranged one next to the other on parallel strips bound together on one side only and collected into a case in book form, it being possible to print or draw on the sheets various pictures which become animated when the observer causes the sheets to fly open rapidly. Experience has shown however that the said arrangements of blocks of sheets joined together on one side only, whether they are printed or not, have the disadvantage that they are of exceedingly brief duration, because the sheets get bent over or put out of accuracy very quickly and after having been used even once only they will no longer work properly. In addition the rigid sewing together of the blocks on one side renders it difficult to allow the sheets to fly open, 20 and the latter process can take place on one side only of the sheets. In order to remedy these disadvantages the improvements forming the subject of the present invention have been contrived which consist in grouping together the blocks of sheets in two or more parallel strips each bound on one side; in arranging these single strips in two rows one facing the other and with the backs turned outwards and further binding together all these backs, providing them with a cover which serves to keep the two rows of strips together and can be folded in the form of a double book. The binding of the blocks of sheets, always arranged in two rows one opposite the other can also be efiected in such manner that the backs are turned outwards.

The sheets can also be joined together by means of metal pins so that their ends exhibit a diagonal and sloping form, rendering it easier in this way to allow them to fly open and permitting of this being done on both sides.

The strips of blocks of sheets can also be arranged in a single row and sewn together on one side only with a cover, similar in all respects to that of a book. Arrangements of this kind permit of many different applications, it being possible to print on the sheets on one or both faces, words, drawings and figures of any kind for instructional and educative purposes. For the practical representation of animated figures use may be made of known apparatus with wheel and brake device. For devices intended for domestic use a simple mechanism advantageously consists of a case in which there is rotatably mounted an interchangeable pin or roller on which are arranged fan-wise'the sheets held together by two rings so that on causing the said pin to rotate, the series of the pictures printed or drawn on the sheets can move around its own axis. The case has fitted to it at top and bottom, a brake apparatus so as to permit of observing the pictures for a desired short interval of time. The invention is illustrated by way of example in the drawing appended hereto in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the device in the form of a double book shown open consisting of twelve blocks arranged in two rows one opposite the other.

Fig. 1A is a perspective view of the arrangement in the form of a single book shown without cover.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the arrangement of Fig. 1 seen from the back, showing the cover which joins together the rows of blocks in the folded position.

Fig. 2A is a plan view of the device of Fig. 1A showing the book cover.

Fig. 3 is a perspective side view of the double book arrangement, open, with the backs turned outwards.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to 3 but with the backs turned inwards.

As will be seen from the drawing (Figs. 1, 2, 3) the device according to the invention comprises a group or row of six blocks a, of sheets of paper or other suitable material and another group or row of six blocks a placed opposite the first, the several blocks of each group being arranged parallel with each other and presenting the back d and d respectively outward, on which side they are bound together; between the two groups or rows of blocks there runs the folding cover 0 in such manner as to form a double book. The sheets of which the several blocks are comprised contain words or pictures or drawings printed on one or both faces thereof, and may, for convenience, be referred to as picture sheets.

In Fig. 4 there is a binding arrangement such that the backs d d are turned outwards. In that case the cover c is extended so as completely to embrace the side and part of the internal surface of the blocks, and is held against the latter by sewing or gumming at e, e. One or more pressure snaps or the like 1, I serve to secure the doube book when closed.

I claim:

A device for the representation of animated pictures comprising a plurality of blocks of picture sheets disposed parallel to each other and arranged in two rows, a backing member for each of said rows secured respectively to one edge of each block in a row, and a foldable cover secured to both backing members to hold said rows of blocks in parallel relation and means for detachably securing the exteremities of said cover together to hold same in a position completely enclosing said blocks.

' CESARE CIVITA. 

